Firefighters don't usually wear bulletproof vests and combat helmets, but that's about to change in Bernalillo County.

Along with police, firefighters are now learning how to respond to situations like a school shooting.

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"We have, basically your bulletproof vest here, it has all of your equipment," said Lt. Zeke Padilla with the Bernalillo County Fire Department.

Firefighters are training to jump in and save lives in an active shooter situation.

"Now I'm ready to enter a scene with BCSO, and save as many lives as possible," said Padilla.

Firefighters go to school to learn life-saving techniques and this pack they will be carrying is filled with supplies to treat bleeding and wounds.

"If there is an opportunity that we can get in, put a tourniquet on, stop the bleeding, we could probably prolong their life," said Bernalillo County Fire Chief Frank Barka.

This could be critical in a situation like the 2010 Emcore office shooting, which left two dead and four injured. Without active shooting training, firefighters may have to wait to enter and help the wounded until police clear a scene. With the training, they can go in much sooner.

"As firefighters, we have to adapt to societal demands and sometimes they are not pretty," said IAFF Local 244 Union President Diego Arencon.

"Sometimes it's a matter of mere seconds that will save your life, and these gentlemen behind me will be able to get on scene a lot faster, get to you, triage your situation and move on to the next individual so we save lives," said Padilla.

Padilla said he plans on requesting $500,000 from the Legislature in 2015 for this type of training.

There are also plans to make an active shooter training academy in Bernalillo County. That facility could eventually be used to train emergency responders across the country.